2010 Volume 6 Issue 1 Pages 15-24
Aflatoxin (AF), a strong carcinogenic mycotoxin, is often detected in food imports. Generally, it is considered that AF contamination occurs in the country of origin. However, the possibility of the occurrence of AF during transportation to Japan from the countries of origin shipping containers is incontrovertible. Therefore, the possibility of AF occurring during the transportation of food imports in shipping containers was examined. Data on the temperature and humidity in dry containers on 12 of transportation routes from foreign countries to Japan were collected, and the change in temperature was simplified. Foods with 3 levels of water activity were prepared by adding water to sterilized food. The foods were incubated under the simplified transportation temperature conditions after inoculation with AF-producing fungi. AF was not produced in food with water activity (Aw) up to 0.83 but a high level of AF production was found in the food with Aw 0.99.
